VIDEO RENTAL CHARTS : ‘Lethal Weapon’ Aims for the Top

“Lethal Weapon 2,” starring Mel Gibson and Danny Glover, is one of the most popular sex-and-violence movies in film history (box-office gross: more than $145 million) and just may turn out to be the year’s most popular rental. As expected, it made a splashy debut on the Billboard rental chart, at No. 5, and could be No. 1 next week. This week’s new No. 1 rental, “Turner and Hooch,” would probably have a long run at the top at any other time, but, right now, it’s bucking too many blockbusters. After a relatively slow start, the John Candy comedy “Uncle Buck”--which grossed big bucks in theaters--shot up to No. 4, from No. 11. “Kickboxer,” featuring martial arts superhero Jean-Claude Van Damme, inched up two rungs to No. 10.

* Director Ron Howard’s comedy/drama “Parenthood” has such enormous appeal for both parents and siblings that it piled up over $95 million at the box office. That should translate into at least a Top Three slot on the rental chart. It debuted at No. 12 but strong competition from “Lethal 2” and “Indy Jones” may keep it out of No. 1--for a while at least.

Ranking Weeks Ranking 2 Weeks On Rental Top Rentals Last Week Ago Chart 1. “Turner and Hooch” 2 10 3 (Touchstone) 2. “When Harry Met 1 1 8 Sally ... “ (Nelson) 3. “Indiana Jones” 8 ... 2 (Paramount) 4. “Uncle Buck” (MCA) 11 -13 3 5. “Lethal Weapon 2” ... ... 1 (Warner) * “Parenthood” (MCA) ... ... 1